--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Proselytizing is a moral imperative and…" description: "\"“Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the marketplace of ideas. I want to hear everyone tell the truth as they see it. I want to learn from ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/penn-jillette-1046_proselytizing_proselytizing-is-a-moral-imperative-and_972898.png" --- # Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the… ![“Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the marketplace of ideas. I want to hear everyone tell the truth as they see it. I want to learn from everyone.” quote by Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/penn-jillette-1046_proselytizing_proselytizing-is-a-moral-imperative-and_972898.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/penn-jillette-1046_proselytizing_proselytizing-is-a-moral-imperative-and_972898.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/penn-jillette-1046_proselytizing_proselytizing-is-a-moral-imperative-and_972898.png) > ““Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the marketplace of ideas. I want to hear everyone tell the truth as they see it. I want to learn from everyone.”” [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encouraging open dialogue and truth‑telling fuels a marketplace of ideas, promoting moral responsibility to share perspectives. **In simple terms:** Sharing truth fuels a healthy ideas marketplace. Key Takeaway Promote honest, inclusive discussion. Themes free speech ethics dialogue marketplace of ideas Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - public debates - online forums - community meetings Key Concepts moral philosophy communication theory social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with sharing personal truth? - How to balance truth‑telling with respect? A Different Perspective Truth can be subjective and conflict with others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [People want the truth but they only want the truth so they can talk bad about you on the blog or on television. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/people-want-the-truth-but-they-only-want-the-truth-so-they-can-talk/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [You want me to tell me the truth or do you want me to stroke you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/you-want-me-to-tell-me-the-truth-or-do-you-want-me-to-stroke-you/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [I am a huge fan of proselytizing. I am a huge fan of speaking your mind. The only way we can share the universe...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-am-a-huge-fan-of-proselytizing-i-am-a-huge-fan-of-speaking-your/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell—or not getting eternal life or whatever—and you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and-hell-and-people-could-be/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell . . . how much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/if-you-believe-that-there-s-a-heaven-and-hell-how-much-do-you-have-to/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/how-much-do-you-have-to-hate-somebody-to-not-proselytize/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries. Besides the fanatical frenzy which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Man is emphatically a proselytizing creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/man-is-emphatically-a-proselytizing-creature/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The act of bellringing is symbolic of all proselytizing religions. It implies the pointless interference with the quiet of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-act-of-bellringing-is-symbolic-of-all-proselytizing-religions-it/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“I believe that any Christian who is qualified to write a good popular book on any science may do much more by that than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-believe-that-any-christian-who-is-qualified-to-write-a-good-popular/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Contributing to others, not converting others, but for those who are interested, going where invited, speaking when asked, teaching when asked and so on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/contributing-to-others-not-converting-others-but-for-those-who-are/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“If free enterprise becomes a proselytizing holy cause, it will be a sign that its workability and advantages have ceased to be self-evident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/if-free-enterprise-becomes-a-proselytizing-holy-cause-it-will-be-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [People think that, that conversion to Judaism is just a modern phenomenon. But there was an era in the late Roman Empire Judaism was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/people-think-that-that-conversion-to-judaism-is-just-a-modern/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-erwin/all-religious-vows-codes-and-commitments-are-null-void-herein-please/) Greg Erwin ## More by Penn Jillette > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Part of the experience of being entertained is sitting back and plugging into someone else's vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/part-of-the-experience-of-being-entertained-is-sitting-back-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [That whole 99% thing, they are all in the 1% of the world. Every one of them pays a cellphone bill that is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/that-whole-99-thing-they-are-all-in-the-1-of-the-world-every-one-of/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-will-forever-stick-up-for-catholics-and-christians-in-general-with/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I believe very much that the most damning thing you can say about Muslims is that you're afraid to say anything because they'll hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-believe-very-much-that-the-most-damning-thing-you-can-say-about/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I'm always surprised when the corporate world does stupid things, because they're often not very stupid in hindsight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-always-surprised-when-the-corporate-world-does-stupid-things/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It's only the losers named 'Dave' that think having an unusual name is bad, and who cares what they think? They're named 'Dave.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-s-only-the-losers-named-dave-that-think-having-an-unusual-name-is/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The only secret of magic is that I'm willing to work harder on it than you think it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/the-only-secret-of-magic-is-that-i-m-willing-to-work-harder-on-it/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Well, it's not really the right word, but freedom is kind of a hobby with me, and I have disposable income that I'll spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/well-it-s-not-really-the-right-word-but-freedom-is-kind-of-a-hobby/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [It is really funny to see people that you know acting unpleasantly just because there are TV cameras on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/it-is-really-funny-to-see-people-that-you-know-acting-unpleasantly/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [My whole take on libertarianism is simply that I don't know what's best for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/my-whole-take-on-libertarianism-is-simply-that-i-don-t-know-what-s/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Freedom means the right to be stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/freedom-means-the-right-to-be-stupid/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“Once you've condoned faith in general, you've condoned any crazy shit done because of faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/once-you-ve-condoned-faith-in-general-you-ve-condoned-any-crazy-shit/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) [Explore all 302 Penn Jillette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) ## More Proselytizing quotes > [All religious vows, codes, and commitments are null & void herein. Please refrain from contaminating the ideosphere with harmful memes through prayer, reverence, holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-erwin/all-religious-vows-codes-and-commitments-are-null-void-herein-please/) Greg Erwin > [People think that, that conversion to Judaism is just a modern phenomenon. But there was an era in the late Roman Empire Judaism was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/people-think-that-that-conversion-to-judaism-is-just-a-modern/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“If free enterprise becomes a proselytizing holy cause, it will be a sign that its workability and advantages have ceased to be self-evident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/if-free-enterprise-becomes-a-proselytizing-holy-cause-it-will-be-a/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/how-much-do-you-have-to-hate-somebody-to-not-proselytize/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-aren-t-destroying-your-enemies-it-s-because-you-have-been/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [Contributing to others, not converting others, but for those who are interested, going where invited, speaking when asked, teaching when asked and so on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surya-das/contributing-to-others-not-converting-others-but-for-those-who-are/) [Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surya-das/) > [“I believe that any Christian who is qualified to write a good popular book on any science may do much more by that than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/i-believe-that-any-christian-who-is-qualified-to-write-a-good-popular/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [The act of bellringing is symbolic of all proselytizing religions. It implies the pointless interference with the quiet of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-act-of-bellringing-is-symbolic-of-all-proselytizing-religions-it/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [Man is emphatically a proselytizing creature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/man-is-emphatically-a-proselytizing-creature/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries. Besides the fanatical frenzy which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“proselytizing unknown alphabets augments the range of rapacity in your nerves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-rehman/proselytizing-unknown-alphabets-augments-the-range-of-rapacity-in/) Abdul Rehman > [Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/improvident-habits-slovenly-systems-of-agriculture-sluggish-methods/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We who don't want radical Islam to spread must compete with the agents of radical Islam. I want to see what would happen if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/we-who-don-t-want-radical-islam-to-spread-must-compete-with-the/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/how-dreadful-are-the-curses-which-mohammedanism-lays-on-its-votaries-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-fact-that-in-mohammedan-law-every-woman-must-belong-to-some-man/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) Browse all 48 Proselytizing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Proselytizing is a moral imperative and feeds the marketplace of ideas. I want to hear everyone tell the truth as they see it. 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